Over the past decade, the therapeutic effects of essential oils have become a research interest. This study describes the chemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal properties of Juniperus procera and Cinnamomum camphora essential oils. Essential oils were extracted by the steam distillation method and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes as the main components of J. procera, together with α-pinene, endo-Borneol, and 1, 8-cineole. C. camphora showed high concentrations of α-pinene, trans-Pinocarveol, and 1, 8-cineole. The antimicrobial investigation revealed that both essential oils displayed significant antibacterial efficacy against all tested organisms. J. procera demonstrated antibacterial activity ranging from 30.5 ± 0.70 to 24.0 ± 1.41 mm, surpassing that of C. camphora, with inhibition zones ranging from 19.5 ± 0.70 to 12.5 ± 0.70 mm. The essential oils were comparable to the reference antibiotic (chloramphenicol). Gram-positive bacteria exhibited higher susceptibility than Gram-negative bacteria. The insecticidal effects of essential oils on Aphis craccivora were studied, and results indicate increased death rates in a concentration-dependent manner when exposed to essential oils. The use of J. procera and C. camphora oils at concentrations below lethal levels was found to affect important biological factors in A. craccivora, including generation time, net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, and finite rate of growth. This suggests the potential of these oils to be effective agents for controlling pests. The multifaceted bioactivities of J. procera and C. camphora's essential oils highlight their promising potential as natural alternatives for antimicrobial and pest control applications.
Citation: Eman R. Elsharkawy, Ahmed M. H. Ali, Hanaa F. Hashem, Adil H. Mujawah, Emad M. Abdallah. Chemical profiling, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of Juniperus procera and Cinnamomum camphora essential oils, alongside their insecticidal properties against Aphis craccivora[J]. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2025, 10(2): 502-522. doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2025025
Over the past decade, the therapeutic effects of essential oils have become a research interest. This study describes the chemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal properties of Juniperus procera and Cinnamomum camphora essential oils. Essential oils were extracted by the steam distillation method and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes as the main components of J. procera, together with α-pinene, endo-Borneol, and 1, 8-cineole. C. camphora showed high concentrations of α-pinene, trans-Pinocarveol, and 1, 8-cineole. The antimicrobial investigation revealed that both essential oils displayed significant antibacterial efficacy against all tested organisms. J. procera demonstrated antibacterial activity ranging from 30.5 ± 0.70 to 24.0 ± 1.41 mm, surpassing that of C. camphora, with inhibition zones ranging from 19.5 ± 0.70 to 12.5 ± 0.70 mm. The essential oils were comparable to the reference antibiotic (chloramphenicol). Gram-positive bacteria exhibited higher susceptibility than Gram-negative bacteria. The insecticidal effects of essential oils on Aphis craccivora were studied, and results indicate increased death rates in a concentration-dependent manner when exposed to essential oils. The use of J. procera and C. camphora oils at concentrations below lethal levels was found to affect important biological factors in A. craccivora, including generation time, net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase, and finite rate of growth. This suggests the potential of these oils to be effective agents for controlling pests. The multifaceted bioactivities of J. procera and C. camphora's essential oils highlight their promising potential as natural alternatives for antimicrobial and pest control applications.
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Figures(4) / Tables(5)
Eman R. Elsharkawy, Ahmed M. H. Ali, Hanaa F. Hashem, Adil H. Mujawah, Emad M. Abdallah. Chemical profiling, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of Juniperus procera and Cinnamomum camphora essential oils, alongside their insecticidal properties against Aphis craccivora[J]. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 2025, 10(2): 502-522. doi: 10.3934/agrfood.2025025
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